Where is airing: ITV
For what age: 19+
How many episodes in 6 season: 30 episodes
Britain's biggest talent show returns for a brand new series. Judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh sift through a record-breaking number of applicants, who this year must audition in front of a studio audience and the panel. The heats start in London, before moving on to Manchester and Glasgow. Watch out for Simon and Louis falling out over a pair of Irish twins. Plus, who gives what Simon describes as 'the best first audition I have ever heard'? Dermot O'Leary hosts.
Britain's biggest talent show rolls into Birmingham for auditions along with judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh and now of course, a live audience. It is Cheryl's birthday - but will it be a day to celebrate? A 22-year-old fellow Geordie girl certainly does tug at Cheryl's heart strings. And the clock is ticking for an ageing Brummie rocker still dreaming of stardom.
More hopefuls audition in front of the judges hoping to make it through to the next stage of the competition as the auditions hit Wales and London. The judges are not impressed by the efforts of Alan Busby and Tom Idelson and they fail to make it through. Daniel Williams, Lucie Jones and Lloyd Daniels manage to impress the judges and make it through. Pop duo Combined Effort tell the judges that they have recently split up as a couple but the judges manage to get them back together but they don't make it through to boot camp. Jade Fubara manages to impress the judges but Fouad is not so successful.
More highlights are shown from the auditions. Diana shows up in Glasgow with her dog called Jazz who fails to sing along with her. Gisela, Gordon and Carla also fail to impress the judges with their performances. Rikki Loney who appeared on the show last year and made it through to boot camp returns once again and manages to make it through. In London, 82 year old William performs the classic song 'Come Fly With Me'. Lydia, Alistair, Heshima and Shanna all manage to impress the judges after auditioning in London. When the auditions move on to Birmingham, Cheryl has to comfort Demi on stage after Simon and Louis critise her voice. Ollie manages to impress all the judges with his voice and sails through to the next stage of the competition.
More hopefuls audition in front of the judges hoping to make it through to the next stage of the competition. Richard, Maggie, Maurice and Chelsey all fail to impress the judges but Ethan manages to impress them all and sails through to the next stage of the competition. When the auditions move on to Birmingham, Faye, Treyc, Karl and Harmony Hood manage to impress the judges and make it through. Not everyone is as successful though and find their hopes dashed by the judges. All girl group Kandy Rain impress all the judges with their performance. Dominic who just missed out on a place in the live finals in 2007 returns to audition again. Like last time he manages to get through to boot camp. He is followed on stage by Nicole Lawrence who manages to impress all the judges except Simon. It Takez 2 manage to surprise the judges and audience with their performance and the judges decide to give them another chance and put them through to boot camp.
The final set of hopefuls audition for the judges hoping to make it through to boot camp. Daniel Pearce who appeared on Popstars The Rivals with Cheryl manages to impress the judges and make it through. Rachel Adedeji who made it through to boot camp returns and makes it through again. Aimie Buck is given another chance by the judges after they aren't impressed by her first performance and after she sings again she manages to make it through. Curtis manages to impress the judges with his voice but not his attitude and Simon tries to offer him some advise.
The successful auditionees head to London's Hammersmith Apollo for the biggest bootcamp ever. Judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole will be putting 200 acts through their paces. Who will be able to handle the pressure and stand out from the crowd, and who will be heading home? After this first challenge, only 50 acts can go through to the next bootcamp stage. Host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to offer condolences to the unlucky and celebrate with the chosen few.
Join host Dermot O'Leary for the second in our bootcamp weekend double bill. The 50 remaining acts must perform again in front of an audience of thousands. Each singer has been able to practise overnight, and today is their last chance to impress judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh. The panel must now start choosing the performers they believe can go all the way. Who will make it into the final 24?
The X Factor goes global, as the 24 remaining acts jet off around the world to the judges' houses. Simon is at his home in Los Angeles, while Cheryl is in Marrakech, Louis is in Italy and Dannii is in Dubai. The judges are joined by Kylie Minogue, Will Young, Ronan Keating and Sinitta, who will be helping them make the tough decisions needed to whittle down the contestants to the final 12. Host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to support the singers as they face their biggest performance so far.
It is make or break time for the 24 remaining hopefuls - at the end of today's show they will find out whether they have been chosen for the live stages. There are only three places in each category, so judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh have some big decisions to make. Host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to support the contestants.
It's the moment of truth for the final 12 as they perform live in front of the nation... with the first of two live shows as the final 12 sing live - and the judges each mentor one category of singers. Simon Cowell has the over 25s, Cheryl Cole has the boys, Dannii Minogue has the girls and Louis Walsh has the groups. Host Dermot O'Leary will be on hand to deal with the war of words as the judges give their views on each performance and defend their acts - one of which will leave the competition.
It's a brand new live Sunday night results show as the final 12 discover the outcome of the public vote. The two acts with the lowest number of votes will sing for survival in the final showdown. Then it is up to the judges to decide who stays to sing another day and who is out of the competition. Last year's winner Alexandra Burke gives the first performance of her new single - and in a world exclusive Robbie Williams is back performing live!
The eleven remaining finalists perform live for the second time hoping to impress both the judges and viewers at home. This week's theme is Divas and each of the acts are offered advise by Whitney Houston. At the end of the show the phone lines are opened for this week's public vote.
Join host Dermot O'Leary live as the 11 remaining acts find out the results of the public vote. The two acts with the lowest number of votes must sing for survival in the final showdown. Then it is up to the judges to decide who stays to sing another day and who leaves the competition. Plus the legendary Whitney Houston performs live, in her first UK TV appearance in 12 years.
The 10 remaining acts battle it out to win the public's votes and stay in the competition. Today's theme is Big Band, which means the contestants must face the challenge of singing with a full orchestra. How will they get on? Judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will be keen to support the acts they are mentoring, and host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to keep everyone going as the tension mounts.
Dermot returns with the results of this week's viewer vote. Westlife and Michael Buble perform live on stage. Miss Frank and a shocked Danyl then learn they are in the bottom two and have to perform again in the final showdown. When the judges are unable to come to a decision it goes back to the public vote and Miss Frank are eliminated from the show.
The remaining finalists perform live for the fourth time hoping to impress both the judges and viewers at home. This week the acts are mentored by Bon Jovi and the theme is rock. At the end of the show the phone lines are opened for this week's public vote.
Dermot O'Leary hosts the all-new Sunday night X Factor results show, as the nine acts find out the results of the public vote. The two with the lowest number of votes will sing for survival in the final showdown, then it is up to the judges to decide who stays to sing another day and who leaves the competition. Plus Bon Jovi and JLS perform.
The battle for the crown continues as the eight remaining acts step onto Britain's biggest stage for the fifth live show. Each of the performers will be hoping to impress the voting audience at home as well as judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh. Host Dermot O'Leary will be on hand to deal with the war of words as the judges give their views on each performance and defend their singers. Next time, one act will be leaving the competition.
Dermot O'Leary hosts the live results show. The remaining performers will be on tenterhooks as the results of the public vote are revealed, as the two acts with the lowest number of votes must sing for their survival in the final showdown. Who will judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh choose to send home? Plus performance from Leona Lewis and the Black Eyed Peas.
Only seven acts remain and the competition will be getting fiercer than ever as the performers battle it out to stay in the running. Judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will be on the edges of their seats as they support the singers they are mentoring, while host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to deal with all the tears and triumphs. Who will impress the judges - and the voting public - today?
Dermot returns with the results of this week's viewer vote. The remaining finalists perform on stage with Queen. Shakira performs her latest song. All of the finalists perform the song that they are releasing for charity. Lloyd and Jamie then discover that they are in the bottom two and have to perform again in the final showdown. When the judges are unable to make a decision it goes to deadlock and Jamie learns that he is going home.
There are only six acts remaining in the competition, and today they must sing live again in a battle to win the biggest prize in pop. Also fighting it out are judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh, who are each mentoring one category of singers. Host Dermot O'Leary will be on hand to deal with all the tears and triumphs.
Dermot returns with the results of this week's viewer vote. Susan Boyle and Mariah Carey perform live on stage. John and Edward and Olly learn that they are in the bottom two this week and have to perform again in the final showdown. The judges then decide to save Oliver leaving John and Edward eliminated from the competition.
It is the eighth live show, and with only five acts remaining, the pressure is really on to make an impression on both the judges and the voters at home. Panellists Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will be rooting for the performers in their categories, while host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to deal with all the tears and triumphs.
Dermot O'Leary reveals the results of the latest public vote. The two acts with the fewest votes must take part in a sing-off, and then judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole decide who stays to compete in the quarter-finals, and who must leave for good. Also featuring live performances from Rihanna and Alicia Keys.
Dermot O'Leary hosts the semi-finals. The four remaining acts - Danyl, Joe, Olly and Stacey - must perform two songs each, and it will be up to them to really sing their hearts out if they are to be in with a chance of making it to next week's final. Judges Cheryl Cole, Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will be crossing their fingers for their favoured acts. Who will impress the panel and the voters at home?
Lady Gaga and Janet Jackson perform in tonight's show, as Dermot O'Leary reveals which performers will have to fight for survival in a sing-off. The bottom two acts will face the judges again, and one will be eliminated, losing their chance of competing in next week's final. Who is going home today?
It is the final! Hundreds of thousands of hopefuls came to the nationwide auditions, but now only three acts remain to battle it out for the title - and one will be going home today. At stake is the biggest prize in pop - a life-changing record contract and the release of their debut single. Judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh are also joining in the race to the finish line, as they cross their fingers for their own acts. Plus some amazing international guest stars will be appearing. Hosted by Dermot O'Leary.
Now the moment the nation has been waiting for arrives, as Dermot O'Leary reveals who the public has crowned 2009 X Factor champion. Joining Dermot and the remaining two acts are judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh, as well as more international guest stars. The final two acts each perform what will become the winner's first single. Then at last the suspense is over and we discover which act has taken the prize.
